Search among Bee Orchid's articles

Publication date  /  2017   -   35 articles

« Feb 16    Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec    Jan 18 »

  • Man the Rigging!

    - 22 Jan 2017 - 7 comments
    Saturday dawned clear and frosty and I did wonder about hanging the laundry from the rigging, but decided I’d wait until later. I dressed up, walked the Ship’s Dog, then decided to head out to the local shops. The lifeboat showed we had -2C here. Chilly!

  • Regrets

    - 27 Jan 2017 - 8 comments
    I’ve had a few… as the song goes. I did something today that I already regret, and as the day wears on, I know I’m going to regret it all the more. I was early for work, and it seemed a good idea at the time, and it only made me a few minutes late for

  • Civic Duty

    - 13 Mar 2017 - 5 comments
    As a not-so-scurvy pirate, I consider it my duty to make walk the plank all those that the authorities don’t consider worth catching, or are not able to due to lack of funds. I have a long list, and therefore a long line of scurvy dogs ready to walk the

  • Up the Rigging!

    - 26 Mar 2017 - 7 comments
    No, it’s not a euphemism, or a profanity, it’s a description of what this pirate has been doing this past 2 days. The rain has finally stopped, a breeze has picked up, and the sun has finally shown itself. Friday was cloudy with sunny spells and a good

  • Avast!

    - 05 May 2017 - 6 comments
    Today, Friday, the Ship is being buffeted and blown about. Outside the sun is shining and we have fluffy clouds scudding across the sky, but get outside, and it’s a stiff breeze and none too warm either. Maybe later I’ll hang some laundry from the

  • Very Civil

    - 07 May 2017 - 7 comments
    In another lifetime (meaning a long time ago) I worked in the Civil Service. My department was an export/import insurance arm for the government. Now, like any company, there are good employees, and not so good ones, and despite it being a long time ago,

  • On Our Toes

    - 14 May 2017 - 5 comments
    The weather here is certainly keeping us on our toes. It’s been very changeable with some glorious sunny days, followed by so much wind and rain I felt it necessary to batten down the hatches and stow the lifeboat. The one day, we had hours of thunder,

  • Raiding Party

    - 20 May 2017 - 7 comments
    Friday, we went on yet another raid to the Midlands. This time for a job interview, on campus, for the Deckhand. The day started dry and clear, and we set off around 08.30. We had a good journey up, leisurely with no incidents, and arrived in good time to

  • A Good Day

    - 28 May 2017 - 7 comments
    After recent heavy rain, thunder and lightning, Sunday dawned bright and clear. I got a load of washing out on the rigging, and using a stiff broom and a trowel, I emptied out the drains and channels for the forecast storms later today. The Deckhand

  • Shiny

    - 12 Jun 2017 - 18 comments
    After 2 hours of frustration and the network dropping, I’ve finally got my new computer up and running. Back in 2005, I bought a new computer with my first instalment of my student loan. It was expensive, and a great machine, and the staff in the computer

  • The Interview

    - 15 Jun 2017 - 15 comments
    On Tuesday, I had a great haircut; the first one this year I think though I’m not certain. Working like a dog, there was little time for frivolities such as a haircut! My son and I then had photos done in a Tardis-like photo booth. Him for an ID for when

  • Test

    - 16 Jun 2017 - 5 comments
    Test blog from Edge

  • Batten Down

    - 21 Jul 2017 - 5 comments
    After some very hot, humid, dry weather which was great for hanging laundry from the rigging, today we have rain. The rain is very welcome (by me anyway) the wind not so much, and it was the wind lashing the rain against the window that woke me at 2.40

  • Monsoon

    - 30 Jul 2017 - 7 comments
    Of late, in my part of the world, we’ve had about half inch of rain a day, every day, for the past 5 days. I know this because I have a large plant trough on the deck that I’ve taken the plants out of, and each day I’ve emptied it into a bucket, and then

  • Blast from the Past

    - 04 Aug 2017 - 8 comments
    I love breakfast. By morning, after not eating since about 5pm the previous day, I really enjoy my breakfast, be it toast (my all-time favourite), muffins (a rare treat) blueberry pancakes, bacon sandwich, porridge, muesli… The choices just go on. Like

  • Finally!

    - 07 Aug 2017 - 6 comments
    After goodness knows how long, we finally had a dry day here on Sunday. Saturday was forecast dry, however we had thundery showers in the afternoon that left about quarter inch of water in the trough. We’ve awoken to rain again on Monday, and Tuesday and

  • Mistakes Were Made

    - 12 Aug 2017 - 7 comments
    Each year, for my Birthday, I think about having fruits de mer, lit’ fruits of the sea – sea food platter. Each year I leave it too late and my Birthday being in October means there is much less choice of seafood to be had. This year, the Deckhand will be

  • Numpty!

    - 18 Aug 2017 - 4 comments
    This week, my son and I turned up for our dental appointment. Well, I had the day and time right, but not the week. What a numpty! I’ve never done that before. My son suggested a reboot of my brain – cheeky pup, though on reflection, it could be a good

  • Rainy Days

    - 22 Aug 2017 - 7 comments
    The title was slightly longer, however it put me in mind of an old song by the Carpenters and whilst rainy days don’t get me down, unless they go on for days on end, they do limit what one can do. I digress: Monday we awoke to a very damp and drizzly day.

  • Costly

    - 27 Aug 2017 - 5 comments
    It’s been a costly time here. Recently, the Deckhand and I both needed new glasses which left the treasure chest reeling. Both of us have been having issues with our phones, so each bought a new phone. In the past I’ve always bought a cheap phone, however

  • Invasion

    - 30 Aug 2017 - 4 comments
    This week, the Deckhand and I were subject to a one-man invasion. A man knocked at the door and flourished an insignia which I recognised as the logo of the Tyrannical Vultures arm of the Bombastic Bullying Cartel – otherwise known as the TV licensing arm

  • Pipe Dream

    - 03 Sep 2017 - 5 comments
    Bearing in mind I’m thinking of moving away from this area, I’ve been looking at alternatives, and jokingly suggested to my son that maybe living in a trailer, or Park Home as they’re called in the UK, would be a cheaper way of living. I’ve looked at a

  • Exhausted!

    - 13 Sep 2017 - 5 comments
    It’s Wednesday, and so far this week, I’ve driven up to the Midlands twice, both times so that my son could take part in mandatory on the job training for his job on campus. I didn’t begrudge doing it, however I’ve stated that if I still live in Wales,

  • Jumping Ship

    - 17 Sep 2017 - 4 comments
    After months of packing and planning, the Deckhand has finally jumped ship, albeit for just a term at a time. To spread the cost, I’ve been buying things such as saucepans, bedding, a duvet and so on over the past few months. I hate to think how much this

  • Pirates, and Alarms

    - 20 Sep 2017 - 9 comments
    Yesterday, whilst walking the Ship’s Dog, I espied the sign of the skull and crossbones – no joke. Pirates about! Luckily, I had my pistol on me, and my cutlass was tucked inside my long heavy coat. We warily walked past the sign, keeping our eyes peeled

  • University Life, or Strife

    - 24 Sep 2017 - 8 comments
    One week on, and the Deckhand has been experiencing ‘teething’ problems with his on-site house share. We Skyped the one day for over an hour, and he seemed quite angry about it all, and a bit lonely. Fresher’s week was a bust as far as he was concerned,

  • Treasure!

    - 07 Oct 2017 - 5 comments
    This week has been a little slow, though it has had its highlights. Wednesday, my sister and her partner visited for lunch; Thursday, I had my long-awaited CT scan; Friday was a glorious day here. I quickly got bedding in the washing machine and out on

  • Busy

    - 16 Oct 2017 - 8 comments
    On Wednesday I met my sister for lunch. We discussed where to go, I mentioned a few places I like, and she chose one – she was paying. After our meal I popped to the loo, and she stated the lights were getting to her, and that she’d pay then wait outside.

  • Stormy

    - 22 Oct 2017 - 8 comments
    Once again we’ve been beset by yet another storm that has rocked the ship, alarmingly so some days. The anchor is weighed, the hatches battened down, and no unnecessary journeys undertaken. The one day was so windy here the Ship’s Dog was lucky to get a

  • Half Way

    - 05 Nov 2017 - 5 comments
    By Monday, the Deckhand will just over half way through his first term. Only 6 more weeks until he’ll be back on board for Christmas. I can’t wait… I’m okay, and we Skype every week, and leave messages on Skype too, but I do miss having him home. This

  • Shiver me Timbers

    - 16 Nov 2017 - 4 comments
    The weather here has certainly taken a turn and it’s feeling very cold some days, despite some welcome sunshine other days. We have drizzle too, soaking the sails, though the good thing about drizzle is that at least those days are a tad warmer. I already

  • Lost!

    - 22 Nov 2017 - 9 comments
    Today (Wednesday) I got lost whilst out in the car. I’d been out to see my sister, a journey that takes around 35 minutes. I stopped off in a shop I like, to buy some ‘treats’ for the family for Christmas, met up with my sister, and we then went out in

  • What's in a Name

    - 01 Dec 2017 - 9 comments
    Whenever anyone asks my name, I never say ‘my name is Fran.’ For whatever reason, I always say ‘I’m Fran.’ It’s my name, though it’s also who I am. When I was younger I didn’t much care for my name. It’s longer than Fran and most people, back then,

  • Happy

    - 16 Dec 2017 - 10 comments
    Friday, I took out the lifeboat and travelled to foreign parts (England to you) to collect the Deckhand. The journey was mostly uneventful though lingering snow on the sides of the road and some flooding in nearby fields did give me some concern. In my

  • If I...

    - 20 Dec 2017 - 8 comments
    To be clear, this isn’t a blog about what if’s, or regrets, just a bit of fun and remembering good times. If I… was rich, I’d have a Turkish Bath and jacuzzi in my home. My son and I have emptied the attic ready for the move. We made 3 trips to the city